Shelby Co. Clerk Wanda Halbert asks for $2.5 million, delays corrective action plan presentation

Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert was set to present a corrective action plan to the Shelby County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday afternoon but deferred her appearance due to a personal matter. The plan is in response to the findings from the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury and the county's independent auditors.

Before Halbert spoke to commissioners, two resolutions were passed through the Commission totaling over $2.5 million that were added on late to the agenda. The first add-on, a resolution asking for money to cover additional "essential equipment," like kiosks, scanners and printers, asked for a budget amendment of about $1.8 million.

The money would come from the general fund, and the resolution went down with a favorable recommendation.

The second resolution, another budget amendment, asked for $628,000 to give all clerk's office employees a raise. Director of Human Resources Gerald Thornton told commissioners that the department had no knowledge of the resolution and said it would violate the county's compensation policy.

The resolution went down without a recommendation.

Commissioner Erika Sugarmon presented the two resolutions and garnered one sponsor on one of the amendments from Commissioner Britney Thornton. Both emphasized the double standard that the clerk has been held to and said Halbert has asked numerous times for additional funds and support.

Director of Budget and Fiscal Planning Michael Thompson said that he and the administration have be strong supporters of the clerk and have previously allocated $500,000 to the office for employee raises. Thompson said that the clerk's office did not submit any budget modification requests for fiscal year 2025.

Prior to the committee meeting, the mayor announced that through his budget proposal, all county-wide employees would be receiving a 6% pay raise. Thornton said that it is likely that the increases in the upcoming budget will be better than the proposal Halbert presented, but he could not say if it was for certain because the Clerk did not provide her methodology for the raises.

Multiple times, both Thornton and Thompson reiterated that both their offices had never reviewed the resolutions.

Thompson said any changes to the fiscal year 2024 budget would impact the budget proposal for fiscal year 2025.

Corrective action plan to now be presented May 15

Halbert, the current clerk and former Memphis City Council member, has become a polarizing figure in local politics. From long lines to expired leases on buildings, Halbert has been at the forefront of controversies surrounding the Shelby County Clerk's office.

In late February, Comptroller Jason E. Mumpower wrote a letter saying his office would be sending auditors to aid the clerk in submitting revised revenue reports. Days later, Halbert submitted her office's own revised revenue reports but they were still incorrect. Revenue reports "blessed," by state auditors were submitted and correct totals are now on the trustee's website.

Mumpower then gave his report on the office after the auditors left. He outlined numerous issues within the office and said his office "lacks confidence the clerk’s office will be able to accurately report revenue figures in future months."

The corrective action plan resolution, presented by Commissioner Mick Wright, requested the clerk to present a plan to correct the issues found by the auditors. Halbert said that the issues stem from the lack of transition she received from her processor.

"I would never want any other new elected official to walk into this organization and to find it in the condition that we found it in with absolutely no help, little to no help," Halbert said.

Halbert said her office has already begun to address some issues the comptroller found, and she is "grateful" for the help the state auditors provided her.

Halbert was scheduled to present her corrective action plan on May 1st as the resolution requested her to. Since she did not present her corrective action plan May 1st, she will now be requested to appear May 15th.

This story will be updated.

Brooke Muckerman covers Shelby County Government for The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at (901) 484-6225, [email protected] and followed on X, formerly known as Twitter @BrookeMuckerman.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Shelby County Clerk asks for additional funding for office, staff